December 17, 2024

The DPSCD Board of Education recognized several outstanding students and schools for their high academic achievement and access to college- and career-level courses at their regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 10. Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti also discussed the District’s legacy debt and the Board approved two remaining union contracts.

College Board Recognizes Outstanding Students with National Recognition Program

The College Board, a national nonprofit that promotes access to higher education, celebrated the academic achievement of thousands of high school students this year through the National Recognition Program. The program recognized first-generation students, rural and small town, Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic/or Latino students who met certain GPA and testing requirements.

In 2024, 137 District students received an award across 10 schools. Of those awards, 116 students were recognized as African American, 33 were first-generation, and 13 were Hispanic.

College Board Recognizes Schools for Access to College-Level Courses

The College Culture Award is granted to schools where at least 40% of students have taken at least one Advanced Placement (AP) course throughout their time in high school. The following schools were recognized, with the percentage of students who have taken at least one AP course:

• The School at Marygrove: 44%
• Cass Tech: 47%
• Crockett Midtown: 50%
• Communication and Media Arts High School: 52%
• Central: 56%
• Northwestern: 65%
• Renaissance: 98%

Renaissance also received a College Credit Award, which means at least 25% of students in the graduating class scored at least a three on any AP exam in high school. Cass Technical received a College Optimization Award, where at least 2% of students in the graduating class take five or more AP exams in high school.

The District continues to improve its enrollment in AP courses. In 2024, there were 2,181 exams taken by DPSCD students, and 656 credits earned, as compared to 1,707 exams and 364 credits earned in 2019.

“The District has been very intentional about increasing access to Advanced Placement classes across the District, not just at our exam schools. The importance of increasing advanced placement classes is that when students take advanced placement classes at the high school level, not only are they exposed to college-level content and courses, but they also have the opportunity to receive college credit,” Vitti said.

Board Recognizes Schools for Expanding Enrollment in College- and Career-Level Courses

Vitti recognized schools which had encouraged enrollment in college- and career-level courses, which can include AP, International Baccalaureate (IB), dual-enrollment, and/or college-going courses. Currently, 53% of juniors and seniors District-wide are enrolled in college and/or career-level courses.

The following schools were recognized for being in the top five of high schools for percentage of juniors and seniors enrolled in and passing college and career-level courses this school year:

• Davis Aerospace (100% enrollment and 100% passing)
• Frederick Douglass (100% enrolled and 100% passing)
• Denby (93% enrollment and 88% passing)
• Northwestern (93% enrollment)
• Crockett Midtown (88% enrollment)
• Henry Ford (78% passing)
• Cass Tech (76% passing)

The following schools were also recognized for being in the top five of schools for most improved in enrollment and passing college and career-level courses from the 2022-23 to 2023-24 school years:

• Denby
• Davis Aerospace
• Pershing
• East English Village
• Henry Ford

Watch the Limitless video to see how DPSCD is shaping student success through academic excellence and transformative opportunities. 

Vitti Discusses Legacy Debt Following Passage of Proposal S

The passage of Proposal S in the Nov. 5 election restored a business tax within the City of Detroit that will generate about $10 million per year, which will allow the District to pay legacy debt from state emergency management sooner than anticipated.

Vitti said the problem is that the Board received the opinion from the Treasury Department that once the debt is paid off, DPSCD must revert to the 18-mills operating revenue to run the District. The Board disagrees; state law contradicts the Treasury’s opinion, which would result in a costly and risky local election to approve the 18-mill revenue.

Vitti outlined several options for the Board to move forward, the most practical and likely of which includes seeking legal clarity through the state Court of Claims.

Board Approves Union Contracts, Appoints New Members to Public Safety Committee

The Board approved two-year union contracts for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 214, LEIN Operators; and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The contracts approved a 4% wage increase for fiscal year 2025 retroactive to July 1, 2024, and a 3% wage increase for fiscal year 2026. The contracts also included December and longevity bonuses, as well as professional development stipends and health insurance protections for the AFSCME contract.

These investments in competitive compensation aim to address staffing shortages, enhance service quality, and ensure that students receive consistent support from a well-compensated, committed workforce.

The Board also appointed elected official Alicia Bell; civilians Polly McCalister, Tonija Ray and Roy Steed; and law enforcement members Lt. Maurice Dickson and Off. Kristy Lynn Cross to the Police Department Oversight Committee. The committee reviews and makes recommendations to the board regarding complaints concerning DPSCD public safety.